WORLD'S AIR FORCES
junior ranks in August 1982, the Kenyan air force was
placed under Army control and named the '82 Air Force.
The principal base of Laikipia, formerly Nanyuki, is the
home of the combat and training units, while transport
and liaison aircraft operate from Nairobi-Eastleigh,
which is now known as Moi Airport. Acquisitions have
included eight MD-500MGs fitted with SX-16 Nightsun
searchlights for anti-poaching patrols in the country's
game parks.
Type
F-5E/F Tiger II
Hawk 52
Strikemaster 8/
Shorts Tucano 51
Bulldog 103/127
DHC-5D Buffalo
DHC-8-100 Dash 8
Do.28D Skyservant
PA-31-350 Navajo
SA.330/IAR-330 Puma
Hughes 500MD/ME
Hughes 500MD/MG/D
Bo.105S
SA.342K Gazelle
* Delivery in progress
No
1?
5
12*
5/7
7
3
7
1
3/9
15/8
Role
Int/FGA/Trng
Trng/Attack
Trng/COIN
Training
Training
Transport
Transport
Transport
VIP
Transport
Anli-tank/COIN
AOP/Civit Support/Train
ing
Liaison
Liaison
Kuwait
Kuwait air force In the early hours of 2 August, 1990,
Iraqi forces crossed the border into Kuwait, completely
over-running the small country within a short time. The
Kuwait air force managed to sustain limited operations
against the invaders for some 48h, before flying its last
serviceable aircraft to Saudi Arabia. Many of these,
mostly Mirage F.ls and A-4 Skyhawks, continued to fly
as part of the multinational force opposed to Iraqi
President Saddam Hussein's annexation of Kuwait. Air
craft of the Free Kuwait Air Force flew numerous
combat missions throughout Operation Desert Storm,
until their nation was finally liberated by Allied forces
in February 1991. At least one A-4KU Skyhawk was lost
in action. Almost 40 aircraft and helicopters were
abandoned to the Iraqis, the majority being destroyed
later as the invaders left Kuwait.
At the time of the invasion, Kuwait was in the process
of strengthening its defences, and had signed contracts
for F-18 Hornets and Shorts Tucanos. Work on the
aircraft continued during the war and the first F-18
Hornet was handed over to Kuwaiti officials in the USA
in October 1991. The first six Hornets will be flown to
Kuwait in January 1992, thus starting the replacement
of elderly A-4KU Skyhawks. Final F-18 deliveries are
scheduled for September 1993. Meanwhile, Shorts is
scheduled to complete the last Tucano during 1992.
Type
F-18C/D Hornet
Mirage F.1CK/BK
A-4KU/TA-4KU Skyhawk
Hawk 64
Shorts Tucano
L-100-30 Hercules
DC-9-32CF
AS.332AF Super Puma
SA.330H Puma
SA.342K Gazelle
* Delivery in progress
Laos
Air Force of the People's Liberation Army US-supplied
equipment, delivered to the then Royal Laotian Air Force
in the early 1970s, remains in service, maintained by
using spares stocks captured in South Vietnam, but is
being supplemented or replaced by Soviet aircraft. Two
squadrons of MiG-21PFs are based at Wattay (Vien
tiane), while Soviet transports are operated jointly with
the Government airline, Lao Aviation.
No
3278*
14/1
18/1
6
16"
2
1
1
6
20
Role
Int/Attack
Int/T raining
Attack/Training
Training/Attack
Training
Transport
Transport/VIP
Anti-shipping
Transport/SAR
Anti-tank/AOP
Type
MiG-21 PF Fishbed
MiG-21U Mongol
C-47/AC-47 Dakota
C-123K Provider
An-24 Coke/An-26 Curl
An-2 Colt
Yak-40 Codling
Mi-6 Hook
Mi-8 Hip
Sikorsky UH-34D
No
40-
2+
4-/3,
3
6/3
10+
2
1
9
3+
Role
Int/FGA
Training
Transport/COIN
Transport
Transport
Transport
VIP
Heavy Lift
Transport
Transport
Lebanon
Force Aerienne Libanaise/Al Quwwat al Jawwiya al
Lubnaniya The FAL is practically ineffective as a combat
force, with only six operational combat aircraft. The
surviving Mirages have not been flown for several years,
and are almost certainly unserviceable. The helicopter
force remains viable, with additional Pumas delivered
in 1984.
Type
Hunter F.70/T66C
Mirage IIIEL/BL
CM.170 Magister
Bulldog 126
Shrike Commander
SA.330L Puma
AB-212
Alouette ll/lll
SA.342L Gazelle
No
5/1
9/1
5
5
-
2/12
7
Role
FGA/T raining
(Stored)
Training
Training
VIP/Communications
Transport
Transport
Liaison/Transport
Anti-tank/AOP
Lesotho
Royal Lesotho Defence Force-Air Squadron The former
Police Mobile Unit Air Wing has been reorganised and
renamed. The Air Squadron is now part of the RLDF,
operating two fixed-wing aircraft and six helicopters.
Two Aviocars replaced a similar number of Skyvans in
September 1989. One crashed during November 1989
but a replacement was not acquired until April 1991.
Type
C.212 Aviocar 300
Cessna 182Q
Bell 412/412SP
B0.105CBS
Soloy-Bell 47G
No
2
1
2/1
2
1
Role
Transport
Liaison
Transport
Liaison/VIP
Liaison
No
2
4
1
1
1/3
Role
Transport
Transport
Transport
Communications
Liaison
Liberia
Liberian Army Air Unit Known at one time as the Air
Reconnaissance Unit, the AAU does not appear to have
been effected by the 1990 coup. A small transport and
liaison orientated force, the AAU is based at Monrovia.
Planned expansion, including a requirement for HAL
Kiran armed trainers, has never been realised.
Type
DHC-4 Caribou
IAI-101B Arava
Cessna Caravan I
Cessna 337G
Cessna 185/172
Libya
Al Quwwat al Jawwiya al Libiyya Libya's unexpected
low profile response to the invasion of Kuwait and its
subsequent uncharacteristic silence during the Gulf War
have significantly contributed to a lessening of tension
between the country and the USA. This had reached a
peak following the April 1986 attack on Tripoli. A
formal peace settlement in the border dispute with Chad
was finally agreed in September 1989, some two years
after the main fighting ceased. During 1987, in the latter
stages of the long-running conflict, Chadiari successes
resulted in heavy Libyan casualties, including the loss or
capture of some 30 aircraft. The Soviet Union regularly
supplied military equipment to Libya at least until early
1989. The last major delivery of aircraft was a batch of
15 Su-24 strike aircraft in March/April 1989.
Type
Air Force
MiG-25/25R/25U Foxbat
MiG-23MF/BM/U Fiogger
MiG-21 Fishbed
SU-22BM Fitter
SU-24MK Fencer
Tu-22 Blinder
Mirage F.1A/E/B
Mirage V/VE
Mirage VR/VD
J-1E Jastreb
G-2A Galeb
L-39Z0 Albatros
CM.170 Magister
SF.260W
Rallye Club
II-76T Candid
C-I30H/L100-20/30 Hercules
G-222
An-26 Curl
L-410UVP Turbolet
Boeing 707-320
Mi-24 Hind
No Role
60/5/4
85/38/15
50+
90+
15
7
16/37/6
35+/30
8/10
25+
30,
100+
•2
190+
8
5
7/2/1
20
10
20
1
21
Int/Recon/Trng
Int/Attack/Trng
Int/Attack
FGA
Strike
Bomber
Attack/lnt/Trng
Attack/lnt
Recon/T raining
Attack
COIN/Training
Training/Attack
Training
COIN/Training
Training/Liaison
Transport
Transport
Transport
Transport
Transport/Training
VIP
Attack
Mi-8 Hip
CH-47C Chinook
AS.61A
A.109A
AB212
Alouette III
Army
0-IE Bird Dog
CH-47C Chinook
AB.206A JetRanger
SA.342 Gazelle
Alouette III
AB.47G
Navy
SA.321 Super Frelon
MM4PL Haze
Madagascar
Armee de l'Air Malgache A left-wing governed country,
Madagascar has received aid from the Soviet Union and
North Korea. A fighter squadron has MiG-21s, MH\
MiG-17Fs. The transport and liaison fleet has a mix of
Soviet and Western types, while Cessna 172s are used
for early training before students are sent to the USSR.
7
i.
1
2
2
4
•o
13
b
4C
10
8
12
12
Transport
Transport
VIP
Lfti ity
VIP
Liaison
Liaison
Transport
Liaison
Anti-tank/Liaison
Liaison
Liaison
ASW/SAR
ASW
Type
MiG-21 FL Fishbed
MiG-17F Fresco
Cessna 172
An-26 Curl
C-47 Dakota
BN-2A Defender
Yak-40 Codling
PA-23 Aztec
Cessna 310R
Cessna F337
Mi-8 Hip
No
10+
4
; 0
2
1
2
1
1
3
6
Role
Int/FGA
FGA
Training
Transport
Transport
Transport
VIP
Communications
Communications
Communications
Transport
Malawi
Malawi Army Air Wing The main base of the MA AW
is at Blantyre-Chileka, which is the home of the
transport fleet while helicopter operations are under
taken from Lilongwe. Seven Do.28Ds were returned to
Dornier in part payment for four Do.228s, the last of
which was delivered in November 1989. Two refur
bished C-47s were purchased from Basler Flight Services
in September 1990 to reinforce the transport fleet.
Type
C-47 Dakota
Do.228
Do.28D Skyservant
HS.125-800
King Air C90
SA.330F Puma
SA.365N Dauphin
AS.350L-1 Ecureuil
Alouette III
No
2
4
1
1
1
1
1
2
1
Role
Transport
Transport
Transport
VIP
VIP
VIP
VIP
COIN/Liaison
VIP
Malaysia
Royal Malaysian Air Force/Tentara Udara Diraja Malay
sia Malaysia signed a £1 billion arms agreement with
Britain in September 1988, which originally provided for
the purchase of up to 12 Tornados. Evolving Malaysian
requirements led to the mid-1990 decision to acquire a
mixed fleet of Hawk 100/200 combat aircraft instead of
Tornados, and an order for 28 was placed in December
1990. The RMAF has allocated a budget of $36 million
for the purchase of four light maritime patrol aircraft
and an order for Super King Air 200s has been placed
Malaysian MB-339s
FLIGHT WERNAFIONAI 27 November - 3 December, 1991 55